Bird Book Help Wanted

[Paramvir Singh]

Hello. I am looking for a birding book, which describes the habits, habitat, food etc of the birds of the indian sub continent.

I have the 'Pocket Guide to the birds of the indian subcontinent', published by Oxford, by Grimmett, Inskipp, Inskipp.

Its comprehensive, but doesnt give any information about the birds.

Reason I ask is, I want to be able to identify the birds that I see around me and know more about their habits, food etc before I can go take pictures of them.

Any suggestions?

[Sabyasachi Patra]

I have the Salim Ali 12th edition. It has plates of limited number of species. However, those are accurate and descriptions good.

I have the two volume Birds of Birds of South Asia The Ripley Guide by Pamela C. Rasmussen and john C. Anderton
It is divided into two volumes. The first volume is the Field Guide and is less thicker in size. So one can carry it into the field. The second volume describes the Attributes and Status. The amount of information about taxonomy, distribution, habits etc is phenomenal. I feel some of the colours are a bit off.

Then there is the A field guide to Birds of Indian Subcontinent by Krys Kazmierczak http://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Bi...ref=pd_sim_b_5

There is also the Salim Ali and Ripley 10 volume handbook. http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Birds.../dp/0195659376

There is a book by Bikram Grewal titled "Birds of the Indian Subcontinent" http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Indian-S.../dp/9628711075

You can download these books:
AO Hume, The Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds Vol 1

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/13117

Douglas Dewar A Bird Calendar for Northern India

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/18237

Douglas Dewar Birds of the Indian Hills

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/23755

Others can post any other books, and I can edit and compile one list. I am shifting this to general discussions.

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

For concise info on ID, calls, breeding seasons & plumage etc. in a light, easily carryable package, the books by Grimmett, Grimmet & Inskipp and Krys Kazmierczak are good enough. Both these books cover a vast number of species along with nearly every plumage and form of these species, and are great for quick referral in the field.
However, I still love my 13th ed Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (Salim Ali). Like Sabyasachi says, although it covers fewer species, the info on each species is a joy to read, and it makes for better learning and understanding of bird life. Rasmussen & Anderton and the Ali & Ripley series are probably the best bird books money can buy, especially if you want to know more in detail.

[Paramvir Singh]

Thanks guys! Time to buy some books.